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GP Extended Access Service in Stevenage

Stevenage Locality are looking at the best way to provide a GP Extended Access Service for patients in Stevenage. Patients are therefore kindly asked to complete a short survey - you will find the relevant link to the survey and further information on how to do this in our 'Latest News' section. Your comments and feedback from completing this survey, will help to structure how the service will be provided.

Upcoming Events

Dr. Holt Relocation

Dr. Holt will sadly be leaving the practice on the 31st March 2018 as she is relocating with her family to the coast. We will all miss her at the practice but wish her and her family the very best of luck on their relocation.

Dr. Holt wanted to write a personal message to her patients, which is detailed below:-

Dear Patients,

I thought I should let you know that I will be leaving Bedwell Medical Centre sometime in the summer of 2018.

My husband (who is also a GP in Hitchin) has reached retirement age and has decided to stop working. Our family is grown and will have left home, so we are taking the opportunity to move closer to the coast and start a new chapter in our lives.

It has been an absolute pleasure working with you all and I have greatly enjoyed my time here. I will miss you a great deal.

One final favour. I would ask that people please do not use appointment time to reminisce or say goodbye. I struggle to run to time dealing with the medical problems brought in by patients within the 10 minute time slots that I have. It is not unusual for me to run late. Adding in extra delay, however well-meant, is not fair to the people with appointments booked later on in the surgery.

Instead I have put a book behind reception at Bedwell Medical Centre. If you have a message or a goodbye you wish to leave for me please ask a member of the reception team at Bedwell and they will find the book so you can write it down for me.

If you are at Roebuck surgery and can't get to Bedwell the reception team at Roebuck have some sticky labels that you can write on, which can be stuck into the book later on.

I wish you all the very best for the future. I have met some of the strongest and most courageous people I have ever known working here. Keep up the good work!

PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH - MARCH 2018

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men. In the UK, about 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer at some point in their lives.

The prostate is a small gland about the size and shape of a walnut. It lies beneath the bladder and surrounds the upper part of the urethra (the tube that carries urine).

For some, prostate cancer grows very slowly and may not cause any problems. It may be monitored, rather than treated. For others, the cancer grows more quickly and eventually some cells may break away and start tumours in other parts of the body.

What affects your risk:-

Age - The older you are, the greater the risk. Only 1 in 100 cases of prostate cancer are in men under 50

Ethnicity - Prostate cancer is more common in black men than white men and least common in asian men.

Family History - If a close relative (such as father or brother) has had or has prostate cancer, particularly at a young age, the risk is higher. If your mother had breast cancer, your risk of prostate cancer may be slightly higher too.

Previous Cancer - The risk may be higher if you have had some type of cancer before.

Weight - The risk of advanced prostate cancer may be higher if you are overweight or obese.

Symptoms to look out for:-

Having to rush to the toilet to pass urine

Needing to urinate more often than usual

Difficulty urinating

A sense of not being able to completely empty the bladder

Difficulty getting and erection or erection problems

Blood in your urine

These symptoms are more often caused by problems that are much less serious than cancer, but if you develop any of them, or there are any other unusual changes that have happened to your body, please book an appointment to see your GP to get them checked out.

For more information about prostate cancer, please click on the links below:-

The hubs are groups run by volunteers or carers for carers and focus on offering emotional and practical support. Most groups meet once a month and offer activities include a programme of speakers and time to talk. Carers can book 1:1 appointments with a Carers in Hertfordshire Carer Support Advisor at some meetings to plan their caring role.

In addition to the Carer Support Hub groups many areas will have Peer Led Carer Groups, for example there is a Carers' Camera Club, a Stitch and Knit group, plus support groups in areas such as Borehamwood and Bushey.

There are some evening groups - one in Hemel Hempstead that meets on the second Thursday of every other month at Greenhills Day Service, Tenzing Road, Hemel Hempstead, from 7pm - 8.30pm and another in Hatfield at the Tesco Extra (Community Room) on the second Wednesday of each month from 7.30pm - 9pm.

If you are interested in trying out any of the groups, please either email learning@carersinherts.org.uk or telephone 01992 586969 and let them know which group you are interested in attending. Carers in Herts will then contact the carer contact for the group who will be able to confirm timings, dates and venues with you - as occasionally these may have to change.

Stevenage Ostomistics

The Stevenage Ostomistics host a group meeting for people who have a stoma. These meetings take place on a monthly basis at the Oval Community Centre between 10.30am-12.30pm

For further information regarding these meetings, please contact Judy Colston on 01438 354018